Golf glove



March 17, 1959 c. B. STROUD 2,877,465

GOLF GLOVE Filed Aug. 16, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. CLARK B. STROUD wgivum March 17, 1959 c. B. S'II'ROUD 2,877,465

GOLF GLOVE I Filed Aug. 16, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. CLARK B.STROUD MX/M 2,877,465 Patented Mar. 17, 1959 2,877,465 GOLF GLOVE ClarkB. Stroud, Zephyr Cove, Nev. Application August 16, 1957, Serial No.678,559 7 Claims. (Cl. 2-20) This invention relates generally to golfgloves and more particularly to wrist-supporting means for supplementingthe grip of the little finger.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a hook-like elementsupported by a wrist strap so that the element is located in the palm ofthe wearers hand very accurately with respect to its position relativeto the cradle defined by the little finger when the golf club handle isbeing gripped by a player when addressing the ball, thus assuringcorrect initial positioning of the golf club handle and assuring thatthe relative weakness of the little finger will not result in loss ofadequate swing tension at the top of the swing. It is recognized thatbeginners at golf, as well as a very high percentage of amateur golfers,have great difliculty in maintaining a secure, dependable grip at thetop of the swing because of the inherent weakness of the little finger.This invention supplements the little finger grip.

Another object of this invention, ancillary to the proceding object isto provide a device which assures the proper placement of the golf clubhandle in the hand. The device dramatically assists teaching golfbeginners. The proper placement of the hands is quite exacting andunnatural to beginners and rather diificult to teach. This device lendsconfidence and accelerates progress in securing the proper grip. It isobvious that the present device will ordinarily virtually assure properplacement of at least one of the hands and prevent the acquirement ofcertain gripping habits. The advanced player also appreciates the firmpositive grip afforded by this device.

Another object of this invention is to provide wristsupported means forsupplementing the grip of the little finger without the use ofcumbersome parts in the palm of the hand that tend to grip and to hamperthe necessary flexibility of the hand and wrist.

Still another object of this invention is to provide such adevice in aform which may be used to benefit the grip of the hand upon each andevery club in a golf club set and, provided the player consistentlyemploys an orthodox grip, the present device is equally beneficial forall types of golf shots.

Still another object of this invention wrist-supported'means forsupplementing the grip of the little finger, which can be fabricated andsold as such or as incorporated in a golf glove of the full fingered orhalf fingered type. a I

'-And a final object to be mentioned specifically is to provide a deviceof the character mentioned which is economical to manufacture, simpleand easy to use and which is completely safe to use since it cannotcause personal injury or damage to the golf club handle.

With these objects definitely in view together with other objects whichwill appear hereinafter as this description proceeds, this inventionresides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement ofelements and portions as will be hereinafter described in thespecification, pointed is to provide a deaden the normal feel of the 1out in the claims,

and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: I

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a golf glove with this inventionincorporated therein, a portion of the inside of the wrist section beingbroken away to show portions of the outer section clarifying the bucklewhich is shown in dash line, the figure also including a fragmentaryshowing of a golf club handle being supported by the hooklike element ofthis device;

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the hook-shaped plate itself;

Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the hook-like element with a fragmentaryshowing of the adjacent portion of the panel supporting the same, asection of the cover being broken away to illustrate how the plateportion is stitched to the pad and panel only;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken substantiallyv on the line 4-4in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a plan view in the form assumed when not incorporated with agolf glove; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view of a modified wrist strap construction.

Similar characters of reference indicate similar or identical elementsand portions throughout the specification and throughout the differentviews in the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, a wrist strap, generallyindicated by the numeral 10, is provided, this to as thepanel 16, andthis panel extends into the palm of the wearers hand. Ordi-, narily thewrist strap and panel will be constructed from leather. v

A hook-like element, generally indicated by the numeral 18, ispermanently secured to what may be considered the lower portion of thepanel 16. This hook-like element opens toward that portion of the strapcontacting the ball of the thumb and the wearers hand. The hook-likeelement constitutes a cradle corresponding accurately with the cradledefined by the little finger of the wearers hand. or more accurately, interms 'of the article itself, with the cradle formed by the littlefinger24 of the glove when the latter is supported by the wearersfinger. The hook-like element may be thought of as outcropping from thelower end of the panel and it should be particularlyv carefully notedthat the hook-like element contacts only the underside of a golf clubhandle 26. Of course, it will be understood that the relationshipmentioned is that assumed when the wearer is holding the golf club in anorthodox manner as when addressing the ball, although it should also beremembered that the hook-like element remains substantially fixedrelative to the golf club handle during the complete swing. Thementioned relationship little finger especially at the top of the swing,since many players tend to relax the grip at the top of the backswin'g,allowing the club head to advance too far with the net" result thataccuracy and power are both sacrificed on the downward or forward swing.5

A pad 28, also ordinarily constructed of leather, is se cured i portion30 of sheet material, integral hook end 32, is enclosed on one side bythis pad 28. Another section of leather constitutes a cover 36 tocomplete the enclosure of both the plate portion 30 and the hook end 32.The plate portion, at least, is provided with marginal perforations 34and this plate portion is stitched to the pad 28 and panel 16, asindicated at 38 in Figure 3. By marginally aperturing the plate portion40'and stitching directly to the panel 16, optimum security againstshifting of the plate relative to has two tongues 52 and the panel isachieved. In other words, the stitching 38 is concealed by the cover 36,leaving a smooth upper surface for contact with the golf club handle 26.The pad 28 and cover 36 are marginally stitched around the hook 'cnd32as indicated at all. The pad is marginally stitched to the panel 16indicated at 42 and the cover is marginally stitched to the pad asindicated at 44.

As indicated in Figure 5, the golf glove as such may be eliminated andthe device sold as a wrist strap with an integral panel 16 and ahook-like element 18, although it is preferred that the device beincorporated with a golf glove.

In Figure 6, a modified embodiment is illustrated, the modificationbeing limited to the structure of the wrist strap. In this form of theinvention the wrist strap 50 54 with a corresponding number of keeperelements or buckles 56 and 58, positioned to encircle the wrist of theplayer at slightly spaced positions. By providing a plurality oftongues, the wrist strap can be perfectly accommodated to a wrist ofparticular size and shape with a view toward comfort and, even moreimportant from the viewpoint of most golfers, perfect positioning of thehook-like element relative to the little finger. This shifting oradjustment, though slight,

may be quite critical in assuring retention of the grip at the top ofthe backswing, and the shifting is, of course, accomplished by relativetightening and loosening of the two tongues. It will be understood thatthe two tongues 52 and 54 will ordinarily be unitary with or directlyconnected to a single portion 60 of the wrist strap generally indicatedby the numeral 50.

It is understood that minor variation from the form of the inventiondisclosed herein may be made without departure from the spirit and scopeof the invention, and that the specification and drawings are to beconsidered as merely illustrative rather than limiting.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. Wrist-supported means for supplementing the grip of the little fingerof a wearer, comprising: a wrist strap; a panel supported by said wriststrap and extending into the palm of the wearers hand; a hook-likeelement secured to said panel and defining a cradle positionallycorresponding with that defined by the little finger when gripping agolf club handle; said hook-like element outcropping from the panel, andsaid hook-like element open ing toward that portion of the wrist strapcontacting the ball of the thumb of the wearers hand in substantialparallelism with the little finger of the wearers hand when gripping agolf club handle and positioned to engage the underside of a golf clubhandle as the wearer addresses a golf ball.

2. Wrist-supported means for supplementing the grip of the little fingerof a wearer, compri 'ng: a wrist strap; a panel supported by said wriststrap and extending into the palm of the wearers hand; and a hook-likeelement secured to said panel and positioned in substantial parallelismwith the little finger of the wearers hand when gripping a golf clubhandle and positioned to engage the underside of a golf club handle asthe wearer addresses a golf ball.

3. Wrist-supported means for supplementing the grip of the little fingerof a wearer, comprising: a wrist strap; a panel supported by said wriststrap and extending into the palm of the wearers hand; and a hook-likeelement secured to said panel and positioned in substantial parallelismwith the little finger of the wearers hand when gripping a golf clubhandle and positioned to engage the underside of a golf club handle asthe wearer addresses a golf ball; said hook-like element comprising asection of inflexible sheet material terminating in a hook at one end,and having an integral, substantially flat plate portion secured to saidpanel.

4. Wrist-supported means for supplementing the grip of the little fingerof a wearer, comprising: a wrist strap; a panel supported by said wriststrap and extending into the palm of the wearers hand; and a hook-likeelement secured to said panel and positioned in substantial parallelismwith the little finger of the wearers hand when gripping a golf clubhandle and positioned to engage the underside of a golf club handle asthe wearer addresses a golf ball; said hook like element comprising asection of inflexible sheet material terminating in a hook at one end,and having an integral, substantially flat plate portion secured to saidpanel; said plate portion being marginally apertured and stitched tosaid panel for optimum security against shifting relative to the panel.

5. Wrist-supported means for supplementing the grip of the little fingerof a wearer, comprising: a wrist strap; a panel supported by said wriststrap and extending into the palm of the wearers hand; and a hook-likeelement secured to said panel and positioned in substantial parallelismwith the little finger of the wearers hand when gripping a golf clubhandle and positioned to engage the underside of a golf club handle asthe wearer addresses a golf ball; said panel having a pad securedthereto, and said plate being secured on said pad.

6. Wrist-supported means for supplementing the grip of the little fingerof a wearer, comprising: a wrist strap; a panel supported by said wriststrap and extending into the palm of the wearers hand; and a hook-likeelement secured to said panel and positioned in substantial parallelismwith the little finger of the wears hand when gripping a golf clubhandle and positioned to engage the underside of a golf club handle asthe wearer addresses a golf ball; said wrist strap constituting thewrist portion of a golf glove.

7. Wrist-supported means for supplementing the grip of the little fingerof a wearer, comprising: a wrist strap; a panel supported by said wriststrap and extending into the palm of the wearers hand; and a hook-likeelement secured to said panel and positioned in substantial parallelismwith the little finger of the wearers hand when gripping a golf clubhandle and positioned to engage the underside of a golf club handle asthe wearer addresses a golf ball; said wrist strap having a plurality oftongues, with a corresponding number of keeper elements therefor,positioned to encircle the wrist of the wearer at slight- 1y spacedpositions, whereby the wrist strap can be perfectly accommodated to awrist of particular size and shape so that the complete wrist strap andhook-like element may be tilted slightly on the same wrist by relativetightening and loosening of said tongues.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,692,201 Denman et al Nov. 20, 1928 2,270,882 Link Jan. 27, 19422,302,875 Lykins Nov. 24, 1942 2,456,678 Cole .t-... Dec. 21, 1948

